| A true "enterprise" system should handle virtually | | | | depends on a number of factors. Switching to a new |
| every operational, financial and clinical aspect of a | | | | software system can be made easier if clients take |
| provider's business in one fully integrated database. | | | | the time to train their staff properly, work with their |
| The system will handle all of the Provider's service and | | | | vendor to determine a good strategy, or electronically |
| product lines including HME, respiratory, nutritional, | | | | transfer their database to the new system - and are |
| infusion and/or home care agency, providing one | | | | open to potentially improving their workflow process. |
| common patient record, common financials and | | | | The key is not to get hung up on "how we did it in the |
| enterprise-wide reporting capabilities. An enterprise | | | | past." |
| system should be able to manage every aspect of | | | | The biggest misconception is cast, which ironically, with |
| the business, from patient intake right through the | | | | all of the various options to finance, can be as little as |
| delivery of the product to the patient's home. This | | | | the monthly fee on a good copier - but unfortunately, |
| should include the various steps that it takes to make it | | | | many providers are not aware of this. Fastrack offers |
| all happen such as purchasing, inventory control, | | | | an Internet-hosted solution with one low monthly fee |
| equipment maintenance tracking, compliance issues, | | | | that includes the application, data backups, and other IT |
| clinical reporting, dispatching of delivery vehicles, | | | | support. The other misconception is that staff |
| customer service functions, A/R, billing and collections. | | | | members will not be able to embrace new technology. |
| Having access to good data is key to being | | | | Our experience has always been the opposite in that |
| successful. A software system that supports a true | | | | the staff tends to want to take advantage of ways to |
| open architecture with full access to the database will | | | | improve their responsibilities and eliminate the tedious |
| allow providers to analyze their various product lines, | | | | tasks that many people face in their work - as well as |
| vendors and patients to determine profitability and | | | | the potential mistakes that are time-consuming. |
| undercover potential revenue streams. Many software | | | | Don't be fooled by canned demonstrations where the |
| products either limit the client's access to all of the | | | | sales rep doesn't allow users to enter information |
| data, or store it in such a way that it is not easily | | | | because they do not want the prospect to see the |
| accessible for analysis. Fastrack offers a completely | | | | lack of functionality. Be suspicious of pretty looking |
| open database, providing multiple tools to access the | | | | screens that make it appear easy to use, but really |
| data - including extensive reports, the ability for clients | | | | lack the depth that you need to run an HME company. |
| to write their own reports with Crystal Report Writer, | | | | Be wary of promises of features that are coming that |
| our executive dashboard, and Fastrack Business | | | | cannot be demonstrated today, or vendors that do not |
| Intelligence, a powerful data mining tool. | | | | come on-site for an implementation meeting to learn |
| Certain inherent features that provide checks and | | | | how your business operates - and don't provide |
| balances are absolutely required to meet the | | | | on-site training. |
| accreditation deadline, including the ability to track | | | | There are companies that offer only a hosted model. |
| HIPAA statement compliance; required security | | | | While hosting has many advantages for smaller |
| features - including knowing who is accessing patient | | | | providers, as your business grows you may want to |
| records; the ability to invoke hold options; and | | | | take the system in-house, and this may force you to |
| equipment maintenance so that the provider knows | | | | have to switch to another vendor. Make sure your |
| when the equipment needs preventative maintenance | | | | vendor offers the ability to take the application |
| servicing. Additional requirements include built-in | | | | in-house if you need to. |
| emergency procedures, a robust patient database, and | | | | Unfortunately, much of the software being sold is still |
| the reporting tools to complete the accreditation | | | | overglorified billing systems that lack serious |
| questionnaire. | | | | technology advances. We offer a true enterprise |
| The software will need to provide information to help | | | | system incorporating the latest technology for this |
| complete the bids, especially in the area of profitability | | | | market. We continue evaluating new technologies to |
| by product. It will also need to alert the user that they | | | | incorporate into our products for the purposes of |
| can or cannot provide the patient with a specific | | | | helping our clients reduce operating costs and improve |
| product depending on whether they won the bid. | | | | efficiencies. |
| Determining how easy or difficult this process will be | | | | |